Dispenser of objects

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a dispenser of objects comprising a body forming a reservoir ( 2 ) for storing objects to be dispensed ( 8 ), an outlet passage ( 22 ) for said objects, arranged at one end of the body ( 2 ), and returned translation means ( 12 ) capable of performing a reciprocating movement relatively to the body ( 2 ) so as to release a predetermined number of objects ( 8 ) at each out and in stroke of the translation movement. The invention is characterized in that said returned translation movement are arranged in the form of a flexible membrane with shape memory ( 12 ) perforated with a calibrated opening ( 17 ), exerting both a spring force enabling said reciprocating movement and, by co-operation with thrust means ( 18 ), to control the dispensing of said objects.

The present invention relates to a dispenser of various objects, andmore particularly to a pill dispenser.

The objects which may be dispensed from a storage means have a more orless round or alternatively oblong shape. These various objects are, inparticular, pharmaceutical products and, more particularly, pills,capsules, globules, granules, gelatine capsules, tablets, sugar-coatedtablets, pastilles and the like. They may also be agri-foodstuffproducts such as sweeteners or candy. They may alternatively be smallitems such as screws, nuts, washers, fishing weights or any othercylindrical and/or spherical part or object.

STATE OF THE ART

U.S. Pat. No. 4,230,236 describes a tablet dispenser which comprises atablet reservoir having, at its base, a dispensing duct with twoprojecting elements, and a push-button returned by a spring. Thedispensing duct is closed by the first element, preventing a tablet fromleaving, the second element being inoperative. Depressing thepush-button will cause the first element to move, thus opening the ductto cause a tablet to drop, and will cause the second element to move toblock the unimpeded release of the next tablet.

FR-2 764 583 describes a packaging tube capable of dispensing granules,comprising a tubular body, returned dispensing means, with anarrangement defining a chute, and a lower receptacle intended to collectthe granules. Pressing on the lower receptacle makes it possible to movetwo tabs belonging to the dispensing means. The first of the tabs opensthe base of the chute, to cause the granule engaged therein to fall, andthe second closes the top of the chute to prevent the stored granuleswhich follow from passing along the chute.

EP-334 729 describes a dispenser of objects comprising a main hollowbody intended to contain the gelatine capsules, and a lower receptacleintended to receive the gelatine capsules leaving the main hollow body.The main body and the lower receptacle each comprise, at theirrespective base, pivoting moving means capable of opening and closing.Following a downward actuating movement of the main body, the movingmeans thereof close and, at the same time, the moving means of the lowerreceptacle open. This allows the object initially stored in the lowerreceptacle to be dispensed, and makes it possible to prevent the nextobject from dropping out of the main body. The return movement towardthe position of rest causes the lower receptacle to close and causes themain body to open again, which allows the next object to pass into thelower receptacle so that it can be dispensed later.

EP-051 994 discloses a gelatine capsule dispenser which comprises a mainhollow body intended to contain the gelatine capsules, and a lowercavity intended to receive the gelatine capsules leaving the main body.The body ends, at its basal end, in an open tube, the diameter of whichis markedly greater than the diameter of the gelatine capsules, and inwhich the gelatine capsules can enter from the hollow body, can thenpass along it, and leave toward the bottom, one after another. The lowercavity comprises elastic means. On the one hand, these elastic meansextend the open tube and contain a gelatine capsule engaged therein,blocking its passage, and on the other hand, these elastic means canopen and close to allow the engaged gelatine capsule to be released.When the user pushes the lower cavity upward, the elastic means deformso as to close the tube to impede the next gelatine capsule, and so asto open the lower cavity, which causes the engaged gelatine capsule todrop out. When the user releases the lower receptacle, the elastic meansreturn to their position of rest.

The aforementioned dispensers all have blocking means which can beopened and then closed alternately delimiting an intermediate storagechamber. They all have the drawbacks of allowing the objects that are tobe dispensed from a body that provides storage to drop simply undergravity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first object of the invention is to produce a dispenser which can beactuated manually and which can be adapted to suit all types of objectto be delivered. A second object is to design a dispenser which can beused in all attitudes, more particularly lying flat or head down. Afurther object is to produce a dispenser, the storage reservoir of whichremains sealed before the first use. Another object is, for thedispenser, to have use of means providing protection against anyinadvertent or unauthorized manipulation.

The problem posed is that of finding a dispenser in which the objects donot leave under gravity. The solution afforded consists in causing theobjects that are to be dispensed to be pushed under the action of returnmeans.

A dispenser of objects comprises a body forming a reservoir intended forstoring the objects that are to be dispensed, an outlet passage for theobjects to be dispensed, arranged at one of the ends of the body, andreturned translation means capable of performing a reciprocatingmovement with respect to the body so as to release a determined numberof objects during each outward and return stroke of the translationalmovement.

According to the invention, the dispenser is characterized in that saidreturned translation means are arranged in the form of a flexibleshape-memory membrane pierced with a calibrated opening, making itpossible both to exert the return force that allows said reciprocatingtranslational movement and, by cooperating with thrust means to controland dispense said objects.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the pushing means comprisea fixed element situated toward the end of the outlet passage near wherethe object or objects to be dispensed lie, the returned translationmeans moving alternately closer to and away from the fixed element, sothat the fixed element pushes said object or objects to be dispensed outof the outlet passage, toward the outside of the dispenser, for eachmovement of the translation means. These pushing means make it possibleto reduce the height of the space between the fixed element of thehollow body and the translation means.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the returned translationmeans comprise a returned member with an elastically deformableelastomer membrane pierced with a centered opening through which theobject or objects to be dispensed can leave. The fixed element is acentered elongate piece secured to the end of the body and placed moreor less facing the opening in the returned member, and with a chamferedface and cut to a point so that it is tailored to the shape of theobject to be dispensed.

According to another aspect of the invention, the dispenser may have acap which acts as an object receptacle. The cap slides with respect tothe body and may actuate the translation means by pressing against,pushing and elastically deforming the deformable membrane toward thefixed element.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the dispenser maycomprise a removable safety device intended to prevent access to thetranslation means and any movement thereof.

Other advantages according to the invention will become apparent uponreading the detailed description of the invention, referring to thedrawings which are given by way of illustration and in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of the various constituent parts of anobject dispenser, ready to be assembled;

FIG. 2 depicts a view in longitudinal section of the object dispenser;

FIG. 3 depicts an exploded view in longitudinal part section of thefunctional lower part of a pill dispenser, with the safety devicefitted;

FIG. 4 depicts an exploded longitudinal part section viewed from adifferent angle, of the functional lower part of the pill dispenser;

FIG. 5 depicts a view from underneath of the functional lower part ofthe pill dispenser;

FIG. 6 depicts a view in longitudinal section of the functional lowerpart of the pill dispenser, with a pill ready to be dispensed;

FIG. 7 depicts a view in longitudinal section of the functional lowerpart of the pill dispenser, with a pill in the process of beingdispensed;

FIG. 8 depicts a view in longitudinal section of the functional lowerpart of the pill dispenser after dispensing, with a dispensed pill; and

FIG. 9 depicts a view of a use of the object dispenser.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A dispenser of objects 1 comprises a hollow body forming a reservoir 2intended for storing the objects that are to be dispensed, and moreparticularly, in one of the embodiments of the invention, granules forhomeopathy. The body 2 is of elongate parallelepipedal type, with asquare cross section and rounded longitudinal edges. This gives thedispenser 1 an elongate overall shape. The body 2 is made of opaquepolypropylene, or any other rigid thermoplastic polymer. The body 2 isclosed at its upper end by an upper plug 3. The dispenser 1 is filledwith granules during a filling phase at the factory, before the plug 3is sealed in place. Given that the dispenser 1 can be used fordelivering pharmaceutical products that may be sensitive to moisture, tooxygen and to other forms of attack also, the plug 3 is preferablyfitted with a seal 4. This seal 4 is an overmolding of a rubber orelastomer material based on the periphery of the plug 3.

The body 2 is closed toward its lower part by a transverse wall 6. Thisthen defines an upper part in which to keep the granules, and afunctional lower part which will comprise all the means used fordispensing said granules. Formed in the transverse wall 6 is a passageorifice 7 for letting out the granules. The orifice 7 is off-centeredwith respect to the body 2, and is preferably pierced in one of thecorners. The diameter of the orifice 7 is very slightly greater than thediameter of a granule 8 that is to be delivered. This allows granules 8which are stacked up one after the other to be let out of the body 2smoothly, one by one.

Starting from the transverse wall 6, the body 2 comprises the functionallower part 9, which is in the form of a thinning of the body. Theorifice 7 of the upper part of the body 2 opens into an interior zone 11defined by the wall of the functional part 9.

Returned translation means capable of effecting a reciprocating movementwith respect to the body are inserted in the interior zone 11. Thesemeans are in the form of a cup-shaped membrane 12. The pole of the moreor less hemispherical membrane 12 points downward and toward the outsideof the zone 11, that is to say away from the transverse wall 6. Themembrane 12 can itself be broken down into three segments.

A first segment 13 allows the entire membrane 12 to be secured to theend of the interior zone 11 of the functional part 9, against thetransverse wall 6. The first segment 13 has a square transverse crosssection so that it perfectly matches the square cross section of theinterior zone 11. The first segment is rigid or alternatively itself hasa small rigid surround, its edge being fixed to the wall 6 at the end ofthe body.

A second segment 14 has a rounded dome shape in transverse section andhas a round cross section. The second segment 14 is made of ashape-memory elastic material, for example an elastomeric material. Thesecond segment 14 can deform axially. This second segment 14 means thatthe membrane behaves like a returned part.

A terminal third segment 16 constitutes the pole of the membrane 12. Thethird segment may have a cylindrical shape. Formed in the third segment16 is a polar opening 17 centered simultaneously with respect to theaxis of the cup, with respect to the interior zone 11, and thus withrespect to the body 2. The opening 17 is round. It is through thisopening 17 that the granules are ejected. If the granule to be dispensedis in the form of a ball, then the opening 17 has a diameter slightlysmaller than the diameter of the granule 8.

The opening 17 has a round and flexible lip 17 a. At rest, the lip 17 aholds a granule, and in operation, the lip 17 a deforms so as to causethe granule to pass through the opening 17. The lip 17 a is itselfsurrounded by a rigid and more or less flat periphery 17 b, intended toguide the granule. The lip 17 a of the opening 17 may also be surroundedby an additional rigid ring made of polypropylene or any otherthermoplastic polymer fixed to the end of the third segment 16.

The transverse wall 6 has a fixed element or protrusion 18 projectingdownward. This is an elongate part secured to the end of the body,oriented toward the interior zone 11 of the functional part 9 of thebody 2 and more particularly, directed more or less toward the opening17.

The protrusion 18 is positioned in the hollow part defined by themembrane 12. The protrusion 18 is centered with respect to the wall 6,and therefore with respect to the end of the body, and placed facing theopening 17 in the returned membrane. The base of the protrusion 18 iscontiguous with the edge of the orifice 7. Starting from the orifice 7,and extending as far as its end, the protrusion 18 has a chamfered face19. The end of the protrusion 18 is also cut to a point, so as to give aconcavity 21 tailored to the shape and size of the granules 8.

The cavity or hollow part, with the interior surface of the membrane 12and the chamfered face 19 of the protrusion 18 delimit a passage 22 forthe granules that are to be dispensed, beginning at the orifice 7 of thebody 2 and ending at the opening 17 in the membrane 12. The width of thepassage 22 is very slightly greater than the diameter of a granule 8, sothat the granules can run unimpeded one behind the next. At rest, thegranules roll along the passage 22 and are stopped by the concavity 21and by the lip 17 a of the opening 17.

The granule dispenser 1 also comprises a hollow lower cap 23, intendedto close the lower part with its interior zone 11, and intended toprotect the membrane 12. The cap 23 is of parallelepipedal type with asquare cross section equal to that of the body 2. The thinning of thefunctional lower part 9 of the body fits into the cap 23, the latterthen being placed toward the bottom. The cap can freely slide in alongitudinal direction telescopically on the thinned part of thefunctional part 9, until the edge face of the four walls 24 comes intoabutment against a step 26 obtained by the thinned portion.

Fine shoulders 27, positioned both on the outer wall of the thinnedportion of the functional part 9 and on the interior walls of the cap23, are locked together, preventing complete withdrawal of the cap 23.The step 26 and the shoulders 27 make it possible to define the slidingtravel D of the cap 23.

The cap 23 has at least one interior rectangular tongue 28, fixed to thebottom, projecting into the cap 23. The tongue 28 is arranged in such away that it is positioned exactly under the third segment 16 of themembrane 12, and that it is capable of touching the periphery of theopening 17. In the case of a granules dispenser, use is made of twotongues 28 fixed symmetrically with respect to each other. The tonguespress against the third segment 16, then, during longitudinal sliding,are intended to squash the membrane 12 so as to release a determinednumber of objects during each outward and return stroke of the slidingmovement. Advantageously, the cap acts as a receptacle for one or moregranules. The cap may be made of a rigid and transparent thermoplasticpolymer so that the user can see and possibly count the granules.

The granules dispenser also comprises a removable protection and safetydevice 29. The device 29 itself constitutes a ring of square crosssection 31. The ring 31 can be inserted in the thinned portion of thefunctional part 9 up to the step 26. The ring 31 has a height more orless equal to the maximum permitted travel D for the sliding of the cap23. With the ring fitted, the cap 23 can no longer slide and can nolonger squash the membrane 12. The ring also makes it possible to avoidinadvertent telescopic movement when the cap 23 is being forced on.

The device 29 also consists of at least one longitudinal extension 32fixed to the ring 31. The extension 32 serves to secure a centered disk33, equipped with a central pip 34. The disk 33 serves to prevent anyaccess to and any movement of the membrane 12. The tongues 28 of the cap23 will bear against the disk 33 rather than against the third segment16 of the membrane 12, the disk 33 transmitting the bearing force to thering via the extension 32. This constitutes an additional safety featureto prevent the membrane 12 from being squashed.

The pip 34 positions itself in the opening 17 and plugs it. This makesit possible to keep the passage 22 and the reservoir with its granulessheltered from moisture, oxygen and other forms of attack. Theprotective device 29 guarantees against tampering, because it is mountedfrom the outset between the body 2 and the cap 23. In addition, when putback in place after each use, the device 29 will provide a safetyfeature against children, known as “child-proofing”.

Use of the Granules Dispenser

The user removes the cap 23, removes the protective device 29, andrefits the cap 23. Next, the user places the dispenser 1, for examplewith the plug 3 uppermost, in the region of his index finger 36 and thecap 23 downmost, in the region of his thumb 37.

At rest, a granule 38 automatically positions itself under theprotrusion 18 and, precisely, in the region of the concavity 21 andabove the opening 17. As the diameter of the opening 17 is appreciablysmaller than the diameter of the granule 38, the latter will not dropinto the receptacle cap 23 under the effect of gravity.

The user then exerts pressure T upward, so as to cause the cap 23 toslide along the thinned portion of the functional part 9. The gradualupward travel of the cap 23 means that the tongues 28 begin to push thethird segment 16 of the membrane 12 toward the fixed protrusion. Theflexible second segment 14 begins to bend into an S-shape (when viewedin transverse cross section). Through this gradual longitudinal movementof the cap 23, the tongues 28 placed at the bottom of the cap 23reversibly squash and deform the flexible membrane 12 upward. The shapeof the third segment 16 with its rigid periphery 17 b will not change.The distance D between the edge 24 of the cap and the shoulder 26becomes ever smaller. The pressure T stops when the edge 24 of the captouches the shoulder 26.

Thus, the protrusion 18 with its concavity 21 will gradually push thegranule 38 through the opening 17 in the membrane. The size of the spaceavailable between the tip of the central protrusion 18 and the membrane12 becomes ever smaller, the protrusion 18 pushing the granule that isto be dispensed out of the passage 22, through the opening 17, towardthe outside of the dispenser 1. Because of the respective diameters ofthe granule 38 and of the opening 17, the granule 38 will be pushedforcibly through the opening, deforming the lip 17 a and will beexpelled downward, toward the receptacle cap 23.

When the user releases his pressure T, and because of its shape memory,the elastic second segment 14 reverts to its original shape. The cap 23returns downward B toward its original position, the flexible membrane12 returning to its initial shape. The responsiveness of the return Bdepends on the thickness and on the elastic modulus of the elastomericmaterial used. The space between the central protrusion 18 and themembrane 12 returns to its original size, which allows another granule39 which follows, to slip through the granules passage 22 and positionitself above the opening 17 in the membrane 12.

The dispenser can therefore be immediately used again to eject the nextgranule 39. A predetermined number of granules may be ejected for eachupward stroke of the cap 23 followed by a return, the returnedtranslation means moving alternately toward and away from the fixedprotrusion.

The dispenser according to the invention is not restricted by thedetails of the embodiments and examples chosen for illustrating it. Forexample, the shapes and dimensions of the orifice 7, of the protrusion18, of the returned membrane 12, of the passage 22 and of the opening 17need merely be adapted to suit each new use and each type of object tobe dispensed. The body 2 may also have a different shape. Modificationscan be made without in any way departing from the scope of theinvention. The latter therefore encompasses all means constitutingtechnical equivalents of the means described, and the combinationthereof.

1. A dispenser of objects comprising a body (1) forming a reservoir (2)for storing objects (8) to be dispensed, an outlet passage (22) for saidobjects arranged at an end of the reservoir (2) to pass said objects toa returned translation means, which has an opening (17), and iscomprised of a deformable elastomer membrane (12) for performing areciprocating movement with respect to the reservoir (2), wherein theelastomer membrane is operationally deformed to move objects (8)positioned in the elastomer membrane toward a protrusion (18), wherebythe protrusion (18) is forcibly contacted with the objects (8) to expela determined number of objects (8) through the opening (17) to areceptacle (23) with each outward and return stroke of translationalmovement.
 2. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion(18) comprises a fixed element situated adjacent to the outlet passage(22) near where the object or objects (8) to be dispensed lie, and inproximity to the deformable elastomer membrane (12).
 3. The dispenseraccording to claim 2, wherein the fixed element is an elongate piecesecured to the end of the body (1) and is placed facing the opening (17)in the deformable elastomer membrane (12).
 4. The dispenser according toclaim 3, wherein the fixed element has a chamfered face (19) and a cutend to impart a concavity (21) tailored to the shape and size of theobject to be dispensed.
 5. The dispenser according to claim 2, whereinthe fixed element and the opening (17) in the deformable elastomermembrane (12) are arranged centrally with respect to the end of thereservoir (2).
 6. The dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the outletpassage (22) for said objects is defined by the interior face of thedeformable elastomer membrane (12) and by the exterior surface (19) ofthe fixed element.
 7. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein theopening (17) has a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of theobject (8), and wherein the opening (17) comprises a flexible lip (17 a)to allow the object to pass.
 8. The dispenser according to claim 1,wherein the deformable elastomer membrane (12) is in the form of aflexible cup, the edge of which is fixed to the end of the reservoir(2).
 9. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle (23)receives the dispensed determined number of objects (8), and alsofunctions as a cap.
 10. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein thereceptacle (23) slides with respect to the reservoir (2) and has one ormore internal projections (28) which press against to push andelastically deform the deformable elastomer membrane (12) toward theprotrusion (18).
 11. The dispenser according to claim 1, furthercomprising a removable safety device (29), to prevent access to thedeformable elastomer membrane and to prevent any movement of said thedeformable elastomer membrane (12).
 12. The dispenser according to claim1, which dispenses pills, tablets or sweeteners.